The US Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday that laboratory experts ​re-checked lettuce sample results from Taylor Farms in an ‌investigation into an outbreak of the cyclospora parasite and concluded the finding should be considered a false positive.

As of Sunday, there were no confirmed ​positive sample results for cyclospora, the FDA added.

The FDA on ​Saturday had said that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce ⁠supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for the parasitic illness ​that has sickened thousands of people in the US.

A spokesperson ​for Taylor Fresh Foods told Reuters that the company was informed the FDA made a mistake.

"To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a ​single positive product test result for cyclospora", the company said.

Taylor ​Fresh Foods added that it had completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce ‌from ⁠central Mexico out of an abundance of caution based on the initial information given.

The FDA, in its latest update said it has "notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure the ​product implicated in ​this outbreak ⁠has been removed from the market".

The company had earlier confirmed that the product was not part ​of its current recall, according to the FDA.

Cyclosporiasis, which ​has been linked ⁠to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Yum Brands Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia has so far ⁠resulted ​in around 100 hospitalisations and no ​deaths, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.


-Reuters